Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-07-23
WHO MAKE THE LVWS !?

" Let us 60 to the people, away from
the politics and prejudices of the world.
Let us go to the working man. to know
him, to love him. Let us go to him to
know what he suffers and what he
wants. Count de Nun.
Now tell how many go and who they
are Not the judges and divines and
jurists and statesmen-not man of - the
powers that be-" A few charitable
clergy, few whole-souled religious, a
few kind-hearted people in every walk
of life,-they may go but no others.
Where is the law-maker or the repre-
sentative of authority who goes to the
farmer and learns his wants ;or to the
mechanic and laborer, and asks what is
needed to better their condition or to
the starving tenants, perishing shop-girls
and over-worked and underpaid factory
hands and mine workers ?-not< a repre-
sentative of authority, except the relent-
less work 6 boss" And yet we are to
render blind obedience to the powers
that be-" God never commanded it..
Self-preservation and the Unborn rights
of man are the first laws of nature.
Where God directs the government
there the most perfect liberty exists. y
Rev. L. A. Lambert.
Where does He In what country
Does He direct the coercion laws against
Ireland Does He order the tyranny of
the Russian despots against their sub
jects F? Does he shoot at peasants for
pastime like the crazy king of Bavaria 7
Does He conquer provinces by the iron
heel Of Bismarck F? Does He overtax
his people to keep up strong " and
aristocratic governments like the Euro
pean ? Or in America !: Did He put the
laws on the statute books of West Vir-
ginia that children of twelve can give
their consent to sell their priceless virtue,
when they can't consent to deliver per-
ishable goods before the age of eighteen
Does He empower local magistrates to
heavily fine and imprison fallen women,
and tell the wretch who encompassed
their fall he is dismissed ? Does He i'm.
prison man from five to ten years for
petty larceny, and let the embezzler and
forger of millions of trust go with q
slight fine or light imprisonment 1t is
not our idea of Divine Justice, if He
does. Scheming politicians make the
laws miserable pelf or political promise
supplant the popular will. Who will
deny that the voice of the people and
their material interests are weak agen
SAOc Al ohNPiAS ASS hoidpAOAs AoOA
with the brides and doodle" of railroads
and corporations, or of combined capita
and political preferment Yet we are
to be submissive: Never !, 1t is the
conscientious duty Of every lover of truth
and justice to protest, discuss and agi
tate, lawfully, until these evils are re
medied.
1.-THE supreme test of any law il
whether it promotes the happiness of 6
people. "-Ddiliel O'C0nneH.
\ Look at the corrupt lobbyists that
swarm about our State and National leg
islative halls, offering brides of money
and privileges that represent the mil
lions, and tell us whether the laws thai
are passed under such pressure promote
the happiness of the people ? And wha,
laws are passed except under some cor
rupt personal or political pressure
Very few ! This is not the age fol-
blind obedience and tame submission te
any authority, for the inducements fol
the abuse of authority itself were neve,
greater or more widespread /: Educa
ton, free discussion and political indie
pendence are the powers that are to be-
Eternal vigilance is the price of Liberty